Prescription file



March 11, 1958 A. .J. HIRSCHLE PRESCRIPTION FILE Filed Nov. 30, 1954 IN VEN TOR.

' W414 MIC/4% United States Patent PRESCRIPTION FILE Arthur J. Hirschle, Springfield, Ill.

Application November 30, 1954, Serial No. 472,178

4 Claims. (Cl. 312-489) The present invention relates to a prescription file, and has special reference to a file utilizing a novel protective prescription cover.

More particularly, this invention relates to an enclosed cabinet having a prescription file comprising a prescription holding and aligning member and a cabinet having a closure member at one end, pivotally connected to the top of the cabinet. The closure member is swingable outwardly about its pivot to permit the prescription hold-,-

ing and aligning means to be removed from the cabinet when a prescription is to be examined, and returned to the cabinet thereafter.

It is common practice to remove the prescription aligning means from the cabinet by opening the closure memher a distance sutlicient to enable the lower end of the aligning means to be grasped and then to pull the latter means outwardly, during which movement the contact of the upper portion of the aligned prescriptions against the closure member raises the closure member sufficiently to permit removal of the aligning means and the prescriptions.

It is readily appreciated that the engagement between the prescriptions and the outwardly movable closure member will result in tearing, bending, and, in time, obliteration of written matter onthe prescription forms. Moreover, when the number of prescriptions mounted on the aligning means or holder becomes so great as to approach the top portion of the cabinet member, the uppermost prescriptions will strike the closure member hinge connection in the course of being removed from the cabinet member, and be torn and damaged thereby.

The illustrated form of the invention comprises a protective box or cabinet, having a hinged door or closure member at one end, and a prescription holding and alignment means which is readily receivable in and removable from the cabinet. A protective prescription cover is mounted on the alignment means and is positioned'on top of the uppermost prescription member.

The protective prescription cover, which is formed from; a stiff, shape-retaining material,- such as metal or plastic;

has a depending free end, or lip, portion extending beyond the ends of the prescription forms, and performs a dual protective function. As the prescription alignment means is moved outwardly, the lip guides the edges of the upper prescriptions away from the closure member hinge and also slidably abuts the closure member, thereby moving it to the open position while maintaining it spaced from the prescriptions. By so protecting the upper prescriptions from contact with any cabinet element or surface, damage to edges or any part of these prescriptions is prevented.

It is an object of my invention, therefore, to protect the prescriptions filed in a prescription holder or aligning means during its removal from or insertion into its protective file cabinet.

It is a further object of my invention to provide a novel protective prescription cover having a depending free end, or lip, portion which guides the ends of the ice prescriptions past the closure member hinge, and which slidably engages the closure member of the cabinet, thereby opening it while maintaining the closure member out of engagement with the prescriptions and preventing damage to the prescriptions by contact therewith.

It is a still further object of my invention to present a permanent prescription file which may be economically made and which possesses the desired feature of ready prescription location.

For a more complete understanding of the above and further objects of the submitted invention, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an enclosed prescription file embodying the present invention showing the prescription alignment means in the course of emerging from the box or cabinet member;

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the prescription file shown in Fig. l taken along the line 22 thereof; and

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the prescription holding and alignmentmeans and the protective cover member.

Referring now to the drawings, and, more particularly to Figs. 1 and 2 thereof, a prescription box or cabinet 2 is depicted having an end closure member 4 pivotally connected to thecabinet top by a hinge 6. The prescriptions 8, which are housed in. the cabinet 2, are maintained in vertical axial alignmentby means of a holder or are formed integrally with the supporting base portion 12 of the prescription aligning means 9 at one end thereof. Although two upright standards are illustrated, it is obvious that one or more may maintain prescriptions contained in the protective cabinet 2 in substantially vertical alignment. The standards 10 have end limits 14 which engage the end hook portions 16 of the aligning means base portion 12. Other suitable prescription holding and aligning means may be employed.

The prescriptions are filed on the standards 10 by initial insertion over the standard end limits 14 and then movement along the U-shaped support for final positioning on the base portion 12 of the aligning means. For removing a prescription from the aligning means a reverse procedure is followed. In addition, any prescription may be readily read by moving those prescriptions superposed thereon 180 degrees to the oppositely disposed leg of the upright standard or standards.

The prescription protective cover 18 has a substantially rectangular main body portion 24 of approximately the same size or slightly larger than the prescription forms 8.

The cover 18 is provided with apertures 20 at one end for fitting over the standard 10. At the opposite free end, the

tion container 2 at an angle of preferably 30 to 60 degrees or more.

The outer end portion 26 of the aligning means base 12 is elevated from the horizontal plane to provide a readily accessible grasping portion. A pull ring 28 positioned on the cover member 4 facilitates the lifting thereof to permit grasping of the elevated end portion 26 for removal of the file from the cabinet.

In the normal course of withdrawing the prescription aligning means from the container 2, the container cover 4 is first lifted by the pull ring 28 an arcuate distance sufiicient to enable the pull portion 26 of the alignment means base 12 to be grasped manually. The alignment means, prescriptions and protective prescription cover 18 are thereafter removed as a unit from the box or container 2. The depending lip portion 22 of the prescription cover 18 overhanging the free ends of the prescriptions 8 filed therebeneath prevents contact of said prescriptions with the under surface of the cabinet ceiling surface 30, the inner projection of the hinge connection 6,017 with the inner surface 32 of the hinged cover member 4. .Such contact being prevented, it is readily appreciated, that curling, tearing, abrasion or other deleterious coaction between the prescription.members.resting on the uppermost portion of. the aligning :means and any other portion of the prescription container2 is obviated.

The cabinet 2 may be of any suitable size and shape, but is preferably only of suflicient sizeto receive a filled prescription aligning member therein.

The present prescriptionfile assures the permanent retention of valuableprescriptions with the dangersof loss, tearing and other similar damage obviated.

Although .oneembodimentof my invention is depicted, it is readily :understood, of course, that the invention is not to belimited thereto since many modifications, as above mentioned, may be madewithout departing from the inventive spirit of the contribution. The invention is, therefore, restricted only bythe limitations found in the following claims.

I claim:

1. An enclosedprescription file comprising a container and a prescriptionholder havingat least one vertical standard for positioningprescriptions insuperposed relation, said container being of ..a size to receive therein saidprescription holder filled with prescriptions and havingan opening at one-side'to permit insertion and removal of said prescription holder, a closure member hinged to said container adjacent the top edge of the open side thereof and outwardly swingable, said prescription holder having saidstandard located adjacent the inner side of said box'awayfrom said opening and a grasping portion at the opposite end thereof, a protective prescription cover on said vertical standard and movable axially thereof for resting on said prescriptions, said protective cover having alip portion at the outer free end thereof declined from .thegeneral horizontal plane of said cover at a substantial angle .thereto less than 90 degrees and located to engage thev closure member upon outward movement of said prescription holder.

2. An enclosed prescription file comprising a generally rectangular "box and a prescription holder of a size to fit in said box having at least one vertical standard for positioning prescriptions in superposed relation, said box having an opening .at one sideto permit insertion and removal .of said prescription holder, 'a closure member hinged to said containeradjacent the top edge of the open side. thereof and outwardly swingable, saidprescription holder having said standard located adjacent theinner side of .said. .box .away fromsaid opening and-a grasping portion at..the. opposite endzthereof, a stitf protective prescription cover on said vertical standard. and movable axially thereof for .resting on saidprescriptions, said prescription cover engaging said standard and having a substantially flat portion'of a size sufiicient to cover prescriptions in said holder with a lip portion at the outer free end thereof beyond said prescriptions declined from the general horizontal plane of said cover at a substantial angle thereto less than 90 degrees and located to engage the closure member upon outward movement of said prescription holder.

3. An enclosed prescription file comprising a generally rectangular box and a prescription holder of a size to fit 1 in said box having at least one vertical standard for positioning prescriptions in superposed relation, said box having an opening at one side to permit insertion and removal of said prescription'holder, a closure member hinged to said container adjacent the top edge of the open side thereof and outwardly swingable, said prescription holder having said standard located adjacent the inner side of said box away from said opening and a grasping portion at the opposite end thereof, a stiff protective prescription cover on said vertical standard and movable axially thereof for resting on said prescriptions, said prescription 'cover having a lipportion at the outer free end thereof declined from the general horizontal plane of said cover at a substantial'angle of more than 30 degrees but less than 90 degrees and located to engage and open the closure member upon outward movement of said prescription holder.

4. An enclosed-prescription filecomprising a generally rectangular box and a prescription holder of a size to fit in said box having at least one vertical standard for positioning prescriptions in superposed relation, said box having an opening at one side to permit insertion and removal of said prescription holder, a closure member hinged to saidcontainer adjacent the top edge of the open side thereof and outwardly swingable, said prescription holder having'said standard located adjacent the inner side of said box away from said opening and a grasping portion at the opposite end thereof, a stifi? protective prescription cover onsaid vertical standard and movable axially thereof for resting on said prescriptions, said prescription cover engaging said standard and having a substantially flat portion of a size sufiicient toicover prescriptions in said. holder with a lip portion at the outer free end thereof beyond said prescriptions declined from the general horizontal-plane of said cover at a substantial angle of fromabout 30 to degrees and located to engage the closure member upon outward movement of said prescription holder.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 712,247 Boykin Oct. 28, 1902 920,402 :Shreiner May4, 1909 921,340 Backus 'May 11, 1909 1,646,008 Butler Oct. 18, 1927 1,737,053 -McCracken Nov. 26, 1929 1,821,279 Sithens Sept. 1,1931 2,491,040 Govan .Dec. 13, 1949 2,713,531 Boone July 19, 1955 

